Improvement in breech-loading ordnance



@ni-tru gisten ign-tem @Hirn LUCIUS M. LULL AND JAMES T. STARR, 0F WALNUT GROVE, ILLINOIS.

ALetters Patent No. 74,557, dated February 18, 1868; antcdated February 6, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADING ORDNANGE,

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T0 ALL WHOM IT MAY OONOERN:

Be it known` that we, LUCIUs M. LULL` and JAMES T. STARR, of Walnut Grove, in the county of Knox, and in the State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Breeeh-Loading Cannon; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description thereof, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, making apart of this specification.

In the annexed drawings, A represents a cannon, constructed of the usual materials, and provided with an oblong-shaped breech in the rear end. Within this breech is placed a cylinder, B, which lies upon the bed at the bottom of the breech, and connectedto the cannon by'means of trunnions, b b, which fit intoA L-shaped grooves on each side of the breech. This cylinder is made rounding at its lower side and at its end, to correspond with the shape of the hed, which is slightly cut out at the rear '(as shown at e, Figure 1) for the rear end` ol' the cylinder when in a vertical position. v

The rearvend ofthe cannon-bore has a shoulder formed around it, so as to secure the collar x, made'pn the front end of the cylinder B, and secure it in its place.

D represents a lever, which is pivoted in a vertical slot (at y) in the Vrear end of' theY cannon, and which is -connected to the cylinder by a chain, C, with a hook, s'o that it can readily be detached from the gun. This lever has a shoulder, x', upon its forward face, which fits over a. corresponding'shoulder on the upper rear end of the cylinder B.

E represents a horizontal bar, pivoted at one side of the gun, in the rear of the lever, and is intended to lie upon the cannon in the rear of the lever, for holding upon the shoulder of the cylinder. This bar has a metal loop, a, at its outer end,L for tying or chaining the said .barrto the ground or carriage. l

It will be seen that, when the lever D is in a vertical position, the cylinder is held in its place by the collar x, under the cannon-bore, and the shoulder rv', upon the lever, so 'that there is but little danger of the' cylinder being thrown from its place by the concussion. l

In loading the gun, the barIE is thrown from behind thcfle'ver, and the lever drawn to the rear, carrying the cylinder with it bythe chain C. There may he a small roller, o,l placed underneath this cylinder for facilitating its movements for loading. The/cartridge is placed within thecylide'r when in the position as shown in the dotted lines in fig. 1, and the cylinder then. thrown down and forced into' position.

By this invention, there is no danger from premature discharges, and the gun can be made inoperativeA should ithe in use when retreating.

By withdrawing the lcver'D and bar E, the cannon cannot be used, while the two said parts can be, easily carried oil' by the persons retreating.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by L ettersPatent, is

The breech-block or cylinder B, constructed as herein described, and used in combination with a cannon, provided with lever D, chain C, and bar E, when constructed in the manner substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing, have hereunto set our hands, this sixth day of April, 1867,.

JAMES T. STARR. Witnesses:

A. P. STEPHENS, GEORGE MeKowN. 

